Over a decade ago, I read an article that compared three 9mm carbines, a Beretta, a Taurus and a High Point. The Beretta and the Taurus were basically their military submachine guns modified to shoot semiautomatic. To the astonishment of the author, the High Point won in all categories except for trigger pull and visual (it is pretty ugly). The trigger pull can be improved, but it will always be ugly.
Came here to say the same thing - it is so ugly! Picked one up in college over ten years ago now and it was fun (still is fun) to take out to the range. They do make some mods to make it a little less ugly though.